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As most expectant moms know, breast pumps are now covered under almost all insurance plans, but many ask what does that really mean? How do I actually get a breast pump through insurance? So, we wanted to take a minute and answer some of the most often asked questions.

If you Google the words “breast pumps”, you’ll notice right away there are numerous breast pumps on the market today, and if you are a first-time mom, so many options can be confusing and even overwhelming. The process of picking a pump is sort of like buying a car…if you have never driven one before. While there is no “best breast pump” there are certain features that you should consider when picking the best breast pump for you.

Boob Scoop: After about the first month of breastfeeding, it can sometimes be tricky to differentiate between a hungry baby and one that has just discovered his hands or is using them for soothing. When in doubt, it never hurts to put your baby to the breast. Breastmilk is always changing in composition and volume throughout the day and these important changes eliminate the concern of overfeeding. If your baby is breastfeeding for soothing you will notice suckling at the breast. If your baby is hungry, you will hear him make "eh" sounds or notice the deep swallows that accompany a feeding. In either situation, your baby will likely be happy to breastfeed since nursing will have met his need to soothe or feed.

Boob Scoop: When it comes to breastfed babies, gaining too quickly is generally not a concern since breastmilk is intended for their growing bodies. Breastfed babies tend to gain more quickly in the first three months (4 - 8 oz per wk) and then begin to lean out as they become more mobile. By the end of the first year, most have tripled or are close to tripling their birth weight. After year one, weight gain slows down but remains steady.

Boob Scoop: The number of times a mom empties her breasts each day to maintain milk production has been called her "Magic Number." If a mom is not nursing/pumping enough times in a 24-hour period to meet her Magic Number, her body will decrease milk production. For working mothers, more breastfeeding at night means less pumping sessions needed while mom is at work.

Boob Scoop: For both nutritional and developmental reasons, it is uncommon for babies to wean on their own before the one-year mark. In fact, most babies won't wean before 18-24 months unless it is encouraged by the mother. Familiarizing yourself with the different ways of weaning can be helpful when deciding how to approach this stage: http://kellymom.com/ages/weaning/considering-weaning/how_weaning_happens/

Boob Scoop: The idea that certain foods, like broccoli or beans, in a mom’s diet will cause gas in her baby is quite common to hear but is not supported by research. If certain foods in moms’ diets were an issue for most babies, we would expect that cultures that emphasize those foods would have more gassy and fussy babies, but fortunately this does not occur. Therefore, rest assured that there is no "list of foods" that every mom should avoid while breastfeeding unless there's an obvious reaction in your baby every time a particular food is consumed.

Boob Scoop: Many full-time breastfeeding moms think that they should be pumping four ounces or more at each pumping session. However, it is not unusual for a nursing mom to need to pump 2-3 times to get enough milk for one bottle feeding. The main reason for this is that if a mother is nursing full-time, "extra" breastmilk that is pumped is more than what a baby needs, and the amount she gets pumping will be small. Moms who can pump more milk per session may have an oversupply of milk, may respond better than average to the pump, or may have been able to increase their output with practice.

Boob Scoop: It can be difficult to find a moment to eat with a baby in the house. And although breastfeeding does not require that you have three perfect meals a day, you do need nutrients to maintain and increase milk supply, and simply just to maintain good energy levels. Babywearing enables you to enjoy a meal while your baby is sleeping or nursing. It's one of the reasons why hands-free nursing is so life-changing and liberating for a nursing mother. Of course it's also a great way to bond with your baby!

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